St. George, SC – A coordinated response by multiple South Carolina law enforcement agencies helped bring a potentially tragic situation to a peaceful end early Tuesday after a person in crisis was reported holding onto the edge of a bridge over Interstate 95.
According to the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, deputies with the Safe Patrol Crime Team responded at approximately 2:36 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2026, to the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near the 77-mile marker at the request of the St. George Police Department.
Officials said the individual was threatening their own life. For approximately an hour and a half, deputies, St. George police officers, and South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers secured the interstate, protected the public, and communicated with the individual through continued negotiation.
Authorities said the agencies developed and executed a coordinated plan that safely brought the incident to a peaceful conclusion without injury.
Dorchester County Sheriff Sam Richardson praised the teamwork displayed throughout the response, calling the outcome “a testament to the power of collaboration.” St. George Police Chief Adam Dunaway also thanked responding agencies, citing their immediate assistance, professionalism, and compassion during the incident.
The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office said the successful resolution highlights the importance of coordinated crisis intervention and expressed appreciation to all first responders involved.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, 24 hours a day. If there is immediate danger, call 911.
